To think public smoking should be banned

[CreamLampshade]

I live in London and am sick of constantly trying to avoid breathing in disgusting cigarette smoke or the weird sickly smell of vapes. There’s only so much you can swerve, speed past people or cross the road. I feel it’s very selfish to smoke in public spaces, especially crowded streets when people can’t avoid breathing it in. Why can’t people take responsibility for their own health - and others - and just give it up? It’s disgusting and really selfish.

That's your opinion and you are entitled to have it, but so are the people who enjoy smoking or vaping.

If we all stopped smoking, drinking, vaping and generally having fun with our crappy hard working lives, we would all be dull and miserable.

In my opinion clearly

Why can’t people take responsibility for their own health - and others - and just give it up?

Yup. It's just that easy! 🙄

I've never smoked a cigarette or had a vape in my life, but I think you're being unreasonable.

I don't know how you can walk and smoke at the same time. I sure can't rather sit down at home having one.

Not for me.
They already have to go outside- I think that's a good enough compromise.

Couldn’t care if people smoke, but it is a bit much, imo, to come out of a supermarket into an unavoidable cloud of second hand fag smoke. I’d like public spaces like supermarket car parks to be enforced as non-smoking. Can people not cope for the hour it takes to do a shop that they have to immediately spark up on exiting?

I’m an ex-smoker, I get the whole addiction thing, but I’d rather load up, go home, make a cuppa and then have had a fag. The irony of seeing a guy with an oxygen tank smoking a cigarette through his trach hole outside the entrance to A&E the other day was not lost on me.

I think if smoking and drinking are the only things saving you from misery then you need to look at your priorities. That’s a very sad life.

I suppose it probably should be.

I don't really see that many people smoking in public these days. But last week I was walking down the road behind a man who was puffing away on a Marlboro Light and it was lush. I gave up smoking almost twenty years ago and I still love the smell of cigarette smoke.

Can't fucking stand vapes though. They're like car air fresheners.

Well, it is. Lots of people do it?

Yes. They often hold them out as well so as we’ll as trying to avoid the smoke there’s the fact you could get burnt at any point because someone decides to gesticulate while they’re talking on the phone. It’s ridiculous.

Personally I don't drink or smoke or vape, and I don't have a miserable life but thank you so much for your care and consideration.

I do however think that people should be allowed to do what makes them happy and if that happens to be smoking, drinking, vaping etc then who are you to tell them they are selfish and they should stop.

Vapes are so gross. They smell of old, sweet popcorn to me. And people smoking them look like overgrown children with dummies. Saw a pregnant women smoking one the other day. I get they’re addictive but I just think there are some things you need to prioritise like your babies health over an urge that will at some point go away.

But who are they to smoke in my face and in my space? They can smoke in their own spaces - but they shouldn’t subject others who haven’t consciously made that decision to it.

Cig/vape smoke banned in public?. OK should we ban cars also as they are spewing stuff out in public places too. And often those objecting to smoking drive the biggest cars for a shop/school that's five minutes down the road.

Life is full of judgment isn't it.

I voted YANBU because I am sick of trying to access buildings and being forced to walk through clouds of smoke or rank vape stench to get in!

Smokers and vapers shouldn't be allowed to vent their shit sticks near public building entrances, particularly hospitals ffs. They're just inherently selfish people.

Last time I was in London I couldn't smell the difference between cigarette smoke and car fumes.

I disagree with you op. Smokers already have to compromise by going outside. The air is already full of pollutants from vehicles and much more. Unless we're going to stop people driving for the health of others, leave the smokers to it😂

Unless they are in your car, or house then they are not in your space, they are in a public space polluting the fresh air, which is already polluted with car fumes, bus fumes, foul smelling perfume, take aways, the list is endless !!!

Or are you going to ban all that aswell !!!!

I absolutely agree with you.
However, I am the worst type of person to ask about this - an ex smoker.

It’s disgusting and childish. Lots of other countries ban it within so many feet of the buildings. The U.K. is so behind.
Atleast smoking is literally dying out and disposable vapes are being banned. Luckily where I live is an affluent area and you barely ever see anyone smoking.

I don’t own a car actually - and when I would like one, yes, I do actually think of air pollution and decide to make do with public transport, or rent a zip car. Because I care about the air we have to breathe in and I believe we all have a collective responsibility for that. But that’s a crime now - all my fault for judging, and not anyone else’s for owning unnecessary cars or smoking…

This made me laugh and I’ve no idea why!

100%. I wouldn’t mind enclosed smokers rooms outside public buildings - like they have in bars in foreign countries - but yes it’s particularly depressing outside hospitals. Often people in gowns attached to drips smoking. It’s also just heartbreaking. My dad died of lung cancer after smoking since his childhood (he gave up in his 50s) and it makes me sad to see already sick people do this to themselves.

I was in France over the summer and hardly saw anyone smoking or vaping. Or adverts for it. Come back to the UK and it’s everywhere. Our advertising laws need to tighten up for a start

It is probably disproportionately a working class habit. Increasing health and wealth inequalities. Another reason to hate it.

it’s an issue for me mostly in central london - ie daily commute through SE1.

They don’t have to go outside - they can smoke in their own homes!